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SyIVanus D .Cushm an.

Signal box for Fire Alarm Telegraphs.

PATENTED SEP 20 1870 waited some fittest (tjiflmy 'SYLVANUS D. OUSHMAN, OF NEW LISBON, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC FIRE-ALARM COMPANY, OF LEETONA, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 107,460, dated September 20, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN SIGNAL-BOXES FOR FIRE-ALARM TELEGRAPHS.

The Schedule referred to in those Letters Patont and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLvA'xUs 1). Cusuamx, of New L sbon, Oolumbiana county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Boxes for Fire-Alarm Tclegraphs; and thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact'descr'iption thereof.

Nature and Objects afan-y Invention.

My invention relates to the combination with a signal-hox for lire-alarm telcgraphs, of. a switch mechanlSIIl, which 1s operated by the closing of the door of the signal-box, and which is so constructed and arranged with respect to the electrical mechanism in said signal-box, as to switch the whole ofsaid electrical mechanism out of the main telegraph circuit whenever the door ofthe signal-box is closed.

The objects of my invention are--.

First, to reduce the amount of battery power required to work the circuit, a result to which my invention largely contributes, by switching the whole of the operating mechanism'ont of the circuit when the box is closed, and such operating mechanism is notin service, thus avoiding the electrical resistance due to the half mile or more of wire on the electro-maguets, and the effects of any imperfect contact in the telegraph-key or other parts of the mechanism forming a. part of the circuit when the box is in service.

The second object of my invention is to protect the mechanism of the signal-box from injury by atmospheric electricity, which desirable result is effected by my invention by switching the whole of this mechanism out of the circuit, except when the box is in seryice, so that the lightning might strike the wire, and even pass through the signal-box, without coming onto any port-ion of the operating mechanism, thus avoiding any danger of injury to such mechanism.

The third object of my invention is to prevent the calling out of the tire department by false alarms, which may be turned in by malicious persons, who obtain access to the signal-box by surreptitious means, a result to which my invention is a valuable aid, as persons who turn in false alarms seldom would waitat the signal-box until the alarm was completed, for fear of being detected; but, after turning in the alarm, would naturally close the signal-box door and run away, but this closing of the door would switch the signal-box mechanism out of the circuit, and would thus cut oh the alarm; and, as alarms should always be of a precise and definite length, the firemen would at once see that only a portion of an alarm had. been given, and would conclude that the alarm was. a false one.

Description of: Acconqxmyiag Drawing.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a signal-box embodying my invention, with the door removed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, with one side removed.

Figure 3 is a. plan of the same, with the top removed. Figure 4 is a plan of the switch mechanism.

General Description.

A represents the frame of the signal-box, which is provided with the door C, and the back B of which is fitted into the frame A A, for convenience in removing the operating mechanism.

The telegraph-key H is of an ordinary form, and is pivoted on a post, lt,.sccnrcd in the back B. with its end resting on the anvil-post J.

The finger-knob I is arrangcdat the roareud, which is supportedby the spring X, placed around the screw V in the post U, which is secured in the back B, said screw serving to regulate the amount of movement of the key H.

The circuit-wheel E is pivoted on-a post, I), in the back B, -and is provided with a crank, h, and the pins. or teeth M) c c dare arranged on the periphery-of the wheel E, in a manner depending on the number and character of the signal rcquiredfor the box;

'In the example shown, the box is supposed to be No. 21, and an alarm-signal of ten rapid blows is intcrposcd between any two successive box-signals, as ismorc fully described in reissued Letters Patent No. 4,012, granted J one 7, 1870, to Alexander Allen, for. fire-alarm signals and apparatus.

The biock'a, having its lower end beveled ofi', as shown, is secured on the under side of the key H, so that, as thecircuit-whecl E is revolved fromright to left by means of the crank F, the pins b c d strike the under side of the block a, and thus raise the key H from the anvil-post J, by which the circuit is broken, as required.-

The electro-lnugucts S are of an ordinary form, and have the pivoted armature-lever 'l, with the usual attachments combined with them, as shown.

'lhc screw-cups KN are arranged in the back B, and under them are arranged the elastic plate-s0 and I, as shown in figs. 1 and. 4.

The rod L is attached to the plate 0, and extends through the bracket M, on the frame A. A, to the front of the box, as shown in figs. 2 and 3, and is of such length that, when the doorO is closed, it shall strike thc end of the rod L, and force it back suiticicntl y to press the plates 0 1 together.

Insulated wires, indicated by dotted lines, connect the screw-cup N with the key H or it's pivot-post 1i, and tho anvil-post J with one end of the wire on the clectro-magnets S, and the screw-cap K with the other 4, from which it is seen that, when the (loorG is open,-

anism of the signal box is in the main circuit, and sig-' nals can be transmitted by means of the key H, either by pressing on the knob I, or by rotating the circuitwheel E, either by means of the crank 13, or by means of clock-work combined with the circuit-wheel, in a manner similar to that; shown in various forms of antomatictelegraph-signalizing apparatus, well known to all electricians, and signals can also he received by means of the elcetro-magnets S and its pivoted urinature lever T.

But, it the door 0 be closed, the switch-plates 0 1 will he brought together, ind will thus form an electrical connection between the screw-cups K N, and the electric current will traverse this short connection instead of following the longer connections N It H J S K, thus switching the whole operating mechanism out of the main circuit.

Various modifications in the construction and urrangemeut of the switch mechanism will readily suggest themselves to any mechanic, and any other construction which can be operated by the door of the signal-box, and which will switch out the whole of the operating mechanism when closed, may be substituted for that herein described.

I am aware that switches have been applied to signal-boxes, which were operated by the closing of the door of the signal-box; hence I lay no claim to the application of a switch to a signal-box, nor to operating the same by the door of the box, except when said switch is so arrungeth as to switch the whole of the operating mechanism out of the main circuit, as

is herein'described.

Claims.

What I claim herein as new'and 'of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the screw-cups K N, elastic switch-plate 0, plate P, or its electrical equivalent, press-rod L, and door 0, the several parts being arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified. 2. A signal-box, for-fire-alarm telegraphs, provided with suitable, operating mechanism, and with a switch mechanism, so constructed and arranged as thatthe closing of the door of the signal-box acts to switch the whole of the operating mechanism out of the main circuit, substantially as is herein specified.

As evidence of the foregoing, witness my hand this 21st day of July, 1870.

Witnesses: SYLVANUS D. GUSHMAN.

JOHN MCVICKER, JOHN A. MYERs. 

